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A gene encoding an SOS inhibitor is present in different conjugative plasmids
E Golub1, A Bailone, R Devoret
1Radiobiology Laboratories, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut 06510.
Journal of Bacteriology
|September 1, 1988
Summary
Conjugative plasmids often contain genes homologous to psiB, an inhibitor of SOS induction, and ssb, a single-stranded DNA-binding protein. This suggests a conserved genetic element across diverse plasmid types.
Area of Science:
- Molecular Biology
- Genetics
- Microbiology
Background:
- Conjugative plasmids are mobile genetic elements crucial for horizontal gene transfer in bacteria.
- The SOS response is a global regulatory network in bacteria, essential for DNA repair.
- Specific genes, like psiB and ssb, play roles in regulating DNA repair pathways and DNA binding.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the prevalence of specific genetic sequences within a collection of conjugative plasmids.
- To identify conserved genes related to DNA metabolism and regulation across different plasmid incompatibility groups.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of 20 conjugative plasmids from various incompatibility groups.
- Sequence homology searches to identify genes similar to known bacterial DNA-related proteins.
Main Results:
- Two homologous sequences were found in 9 out of 20 conjugative plasmids.
- These sequences showed homology to the psiB gene (inhibitor of SOS induction) and the ssb gene (single-stranded DNA-binding protein).
Conclusions:
- Conserved genetic elements homologous to psiB and ssb are present in a significant portion of conjugative plasmids.
- These findings suggest a potential conserved role for these genes in plasmid biology and maintenance across diverse plasmid types.